Trail Letter 6: 4/8

23.1 anniversary miles today — it’s been one month since we set foot on the Approach Trail in Amicalola State Park! It doesn’t feel like 31 days have passed, but the calendar is usually pretty accurate.

After 6 miles we hit Kincora Hostel, where Feezel had a mail drop. Trouble was that the owner/manager was out doing Trail maintenance and wouldn’t be back until 3 — it was 11:30 when we arrived. He decided to wait until 3, and Bigfoot jumped on the chance for a 3 hour break, shower and toilet included! So I set off by my lonesome, with plans to rendezvous later at a shelter….

But shortly thereafter, as I was about to turn off the road back onto the Trail, George — a retired gym coach — pulled up and honked at me. He wanted to know who far and how easy to Laurel Falls: “I’ve run over 60,000 miles on trails and roads, and some of my students asked me, they said ‘Coach, have you ever been to Laurel Falls, Coach? You should go, Coach.’” He was really interested in my hike and kept saying how wonderful it was for me to do this — he said, “You’re my hero for today, son,” to which I replied, “Any 60 year old man that runs trails is my hero.”

So I left him gearing up in the parking lot, but eventually he caught up and passed me. In passing he said, “I don’t have any money to give ya but I got these,” and he handed me 3 Jolly Ranchers. “Use ‘em when you get thirsty!” Anyway, we ended up at the Falls at the same time, and he was kind enough to snap a picture, “…as long as all [he had] to do is press a button.”

I ran into Snake, who had hidden a bag of brewsky’s and Mountain Dews beside a highway crossing the day before. He was kind enough to share, so I had a Modelo and a Dew. Shortly thereafter I reached the shelter, but it was early so I decided to continue, and left BF and Feezel a note in the shelter register.

I’ve set up camp here on this ridge purposefully — so that I can see the sunset, and the sunrise will wake me up tomorrow. The sun was blood-red for about 10 minutes before it disappeared — surreal.

While I was eating dinner, I heard a creature moving through the woods below the ridge. I sat still, anxiously curious about what it was, and soon I saw a doe scratching and nosing the forest floor for food — it was amazing what caution deer used — looking around every 5 seconds and taking deliberate, slow steps through the woods… I whistled a few times, and each time the animal completely froze — after a few seconds, its color(s) blended with the forest’s making it hard to distinguish.

It’s my first night sleeping completely alone on the Trail — hopefully no bears!

4/9

23.2 “Happy Birthday to Me” miles today. After waking up before the sun, I made some oatmeal and watched the sun come up. It was the same blood-red color rising as it was setting the night before. I saw very few people and spoke very few words today — and it was quite possibly the most enjoyable day yet. BF and Feezel are still somewhere behind, but I’m hoping they make it to this shelter — Feezel has Oreos and I have vanilla pudding, so we’re gonna make some Oreo pudding for my birthday.

The hiking today was quite possibly the easiest stretch yet — no significant climbs or descents. There was a one mile section through bright green rolling grassy meadows that reminded me of home.

Wendy & Drew, Fifer, Chili Mac, Gatoraid, and Half-Brew are at this shelter. I heard Fifer fifing on his fife-flute when I was filtering water, and when he arrived he informed us he had seen a bear today.

Made it here by 3:45, so I’m gonna eat some birthday lasagna (thanks Mom!) and rest up for the 10 miles into Damascus tomorrow.

Oh yeah, my other birthday gift to myself is my Trail Name. I’m now don Juan (inspired by don Juan Matus, my first name “Jon”, and my dabblings in learning Spanish).